NBA Betting: Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks

Added on Feb 23, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NBA

Plenty of basketball action on the board at your favorite online sportsbook. In this post we’ll take a look at a NBA Western Conference matchup between the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks. Both teams are making their return to action after the All Star Break–the Jazz are in a state of massive disarray, while the Mavericks are trying to stay within sight of the San Antonio Spurs in both the divisional and conference race.

Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks
February 23, 2011 5:35 PM Pacific

What looked like a garden variety mid year slump has turned into a cataclysmic train wreck in Salt Lake City and the Utah Jazz are a franchise in turmoil. They’ll try to get their first win for new head coach Tyrone Corbin tonight as the take on the Dallas Mavericks. In a year that started very well for the Jazz they’ve just about hit rock bottom. The Jazz started the season 15-5 and looked like a Western Conference title contender with Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson filling in nicely for departed Carlos Boozer and point guard Deron Williams playing at an All Star level. Since then, however, the team has nosedived in the standings and is in a complete state of disarray following the shocking departure of longtime head coach Jerry Sloan.

As if Corbin didn’t have enough problems, he’s got to deal with injuries to Raja Bell, Andrei Kirilenko and Ronnie Price. He’s also got a situation on his hands with the team’s best player, point guard Deron Williams. Williams’ increasingly hostile relationship with Sloan was reportedly the catalyst for the coach’s departure and now there’s a lot of speculation that he’ll be leaving anyway after his contract is up at the end of the year. There’s been quite a few rumors in the past few days linking him with the New York Knicks though for now everyone is denying that. Williams is playing the ‘bigger media market’ card that Boozer did before him and suggesting that the rather staid lifestyle of the SLC isn’t his cup of tea.

It’s impossible to play on the Jazz at this point. The Jazz lost 13 of 17 heading into the All Star Break and until they show signs that they’re getting some stability under Corbin they’ll remain a ‘go against’. They’re 2-9 ATS against the Southwest Division this year and are 1-4 SU/ATS in their last five against opponents with winning records. Utah is also 6-12 ATS in their L18 games. Dallas is a momentum driven team and the more they win the better they get–after 3 or more SU wins this year they’re 16-6 ATS. They’ve also won and covered 4 of the last 5 at home. The NBA odds on this game will likely move against us so get down early.

UPDATE: Reports are circulating that the Jazz will trade Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets today for Derek Favors and Devin Harris.

Bet Dallas Mavericks -7 over Utah Jazz